24 Hours in Athens, GA with Hugh Acheson

Today’s 24 Hours in Athens, GA City Guide comes to us from renowned chef and author, Hugh Acheson. Although born in Ottawa, Canada, Hugh developed a love of the South and its cuisine and eventually opened his first restaurant, Five & Ten, in Athens, GA. Since then, he’s opened several more restaurants in and around Georgia and penned the popular (not to mention, James Beard Awarded Best Cookbook of 2012) A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for Your Kitchen. Today he shares with us his ideal day in the city he calls home: Athens, GA. Thanks for taking us on a tour, Hugh! –Stephanie

Athens, GA is my community. Known for its music and arts, football and academics, it is a city that is constantly progressing, while retaining a Southern, small-town feel that can’t be beat. What has always impressed me is the number of amazingly talented citizens who could live anywhere but choose to call Athens home. At its core, the town is very magnetic to good souls.

In my smaller world, my neighborhood is called the Boulevard Historic District, about ½ mile away from the northeast corner of downtown Athens. We live in an old house, which is beautiful and decaying at the same time. We walk the kids to a great public school around the corner, a requisite for me, as I always loved walking to school.

If I drove out of town I would encounter rural Georgia in about five minutes, as long as I didn’t head west toward Atlanta. In the other directions you find farms and small towns, streams and foothills. It is a beautiful landscape that has provided for the communities that dot its red clay.

To me it is home, and that will never change. I will go many places, but my pillow will always be in Athens.

I was lucky to live in Athens during my college days at UGA and, some 10+ years later, it still occupies a special place in my heart & memory! I haven’t visited in several years but I’m glad to hear the magic lives on.

Another Athenian. I am *shocked* that Hugh likes Waffle House, but like the first poster, I also love that fact. And Los Amigos I have never heard of, despite being a foodie and living here four years. I’m excited to try it. Hugh didn’t mention his new venture, http://cincoydiezathens.com but it’s inspired by his love of tacos and it’s amazing (I’ve been for brunch and dinner). I’d like also to mention http://hendershotscoffee.com, whose disaffected hipsters and grad students I prefer to Two-Story’s sorority crowd. And my ‘hood is Cobbham Historic District, which is served by the amazing local food co-op http://www.dailygroceries.org, a great place to grab a coffee, a vegan sandwich, artisan yogurt and local produce.

Avid Bookshop on Prince Avenue is a great place to stop and shop – it’s our only locally owned bookshop. Also, Pulaski Heights BBQ, Shiraz (wine, cheese shop), Daily Groceries, the Grit, Hendershot’s, Vive Argentina, Taqueria Del Sol, Siri Thai are close by – all local and great, including those already mentioned. Agora is great for vintage as is Modern Star next to the National, which is housed in Cine, Athens’ art moviehouse. This list barely scratches the surface. Great post by Chef Hugh!

Pretty much same comment as on last Athens guide: “Great to see my hometown featured here, but this ignores Athens’ rich African-American history and misrepresents it as a white town. Pretty disappointing that “southern charm” eclipses its true history.”

Let’s add the Georgia Museum of Art, Vic’s Vintage, The Butt Hut, Sr Sol’s margaritas, Botanical Garden! One of the best TJ Maxx/Homegoods in the nation…trust me My husband and I check them out wherever we travel.

OOPs! and Big City Bread, Ted’s Most Best, Clocked, 40 Watt, Georgia Theatre, GO Bar, of course. Yes, Jim, Hotel Indigo, too. The list goes on and on….
No slight to the African-American community. My ideas are focused on Prince/Downtown in same general area. If we branched out the list grows ever more.

– Weaver D’s for amazing fried chicken
– Cine for great independent movies (plus, the theater is a converted garage)
– Some really great thrift shopping at America’s Thrift Store/Goodwill
– REM history spots = the Murmur trestle, church steeple.
– If you’re willing to drive a bit, Watson Mill State Park has a beautiful covered bridge and river area.

Re: Mae’s comment about Athens’s TJ Maxx/Homegoods–oh no, you just gave away one of our best kept secrets! My Hudson and J. Brand jeans, handmade Italian shoes, D.L. & Co. candles, and Spode china are not ashamed of their deeply discounted origins. And

Excellent description Hugh! “At its core, the town is very magnetic to good souls”- so true. We just moved to Athens, a couple years ago from Nashville, Tn and completely love it with all our hearts. The community is real and the creativity is contagious.

Although I was born and raised elsewhere, Athens (and tiny nearby Winterville) is now my hometown! In addition to the great bar music scene in Athens, check out the yearly music festivals over the summer: the Marigold Festival in Winterville each May, and AthFest in downtown Athens each June. Or if you’re here through the school year, stop by the Performing Arts Center on campus or the Classic Center downtown.

This design is spectacular! You definitely know how to keep a reader amused.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to
start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job.

I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!

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